Rock and roll guitar
Rock and roll means a fast shuffle, a boogie on the bass strings and lively double-stop solos. Below are the chords, scale, techniques and a riff you can hear and practise.
1950s140–190 BPMboogiedouble stops
What is rock and roll
Rock and roll appeared in the USA in the first half of the 1950s, bringing together blues, rhythm and blues and country. It uses the same 12-bar form as the blues, but faster, louder and made for dancing. Almost all guitar rock grew out of it.
The guitar holds a boogie rhythm: an open bass string plus a note on the next string that “walks” up and down. Solos use double stops on the top two strings, bends and short energetic pentatonic phrases.
Signature chords
The basis is three major chords: A, D and E, the I, IV and V degrees. The 12-bar form is built on them, as in the blues: four bars of A, two of D, two of A, then E, D, A and E. Below is a short four-chord version.
Scale for soloing
Solos use the A minor pentatonic mixed with major chord notes. Below the scale is shown from the 5th fret - the solo on this page is played in the same position.
Techniques
Boogie
The open bass string rings all the time while a finger on the next string moves from the 2nd fret to the 4th, the 5th and back. That is the famous “walking” accompaniment. The riff below is built this way.
Double stops
The top two strings are pressed with one finger at the same fret and sound together. Repeated quickly, they give that bright rock and roll sound.
Unison bend
A note on the third string is bent up to the same pitch as the neighbouring note on the second string. The two notes merge into one and the sound starts to “howl”. Tap the example to hear the bend itself.
Riff in the style
The open fifth string plus a note on the fourth: 2nd fret, 4th, 5th and back to the 4th. In the second bar the same shape moves one string down for the D chord. Keep the shuffle even - at 160 BPM that is not easy, so start at 60%.
Rock and roll-style solo
Fast repeated double stops at the 5th fret, a unison bend, then double stops at the 8th fret and a descent to A with vibrato.
The riff opens as a draft: change notes, tempo and tracks however you like.
Open in RiffonicWhat to listen to
Listen to these songs and pay attention to what is described next to each one.
- Chuck Berry - “Johnny B. Goode”. A double-stop intro and a driving boogie accompaniment - the foundation of rock and roll guitar.
- Elvis Presley - “Hound Dog”. Short, wild guitar solos between the verses: simple notes, lots of spirit.
- Bill Haley & His Comets - “Rock Around the Clock”. A 12-bar blues at a fast tempo - the same form as the blues, with a different mood.
Every riff and solo on this page is an original exercise in the style of the genre, not the notes of someone else’s song.
FAQ
How is rock and roll different from the blues?
The chord form is often the same - 12 bars on three chords. But rock and roll is faster, more energetic and made for dancing, and the guitar plays a boogie and short, bright solos instead of slow phrases.
What chords do you need for rock and roll?
Three major chords in one key: for example A, D and E, or E, A and B7. For the boogie accompaniment, power chords on the fifth and sixth strings are enough.
What are double stops?
Two notes played at the same time on neighbouring strings, often with one finger at the same fret. In rock and roll they open solos and fill the gaps.